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(Kate) Trying to Study
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 05-19-15 17:38
Kate occupied a study carrel in the library and worked on making flashcards for Transfiguration class. It was the first day of Spring Term and also less than two months away until the N.E.W.T. exams. Kate had done a little bit of studying and careful note-taking since the very start of the school year, but now was the time to really buckle down and prepare for those very important exams.
She had already put in an application for St. Emrys University but did not yet know what she wanted to study. Truth be told, Kate had never given her future much thought. It was a little hard to imagine herself out of school and working for a living, which is why the university appealed to her. In order to be considered for specific jobs and certain colleges at the university, however, Kate had to ace her end of year exams.
Just before noon, Hugo entered the single carrel and asked, "Ready for lunch?"
Kate frowned because she was in the middle of recording the process of Petrification onto a flashcard. She glanced at the watch on her wrist and said, "I told you to fetch me at 12:15, Hugo. It's too early, and I haven't yet accomplished everything I wanted this morning."
Hugo shrugged and shot her a lopsided grin. "It's the first day of term, Kate. Why do you have to study so hard so soon? The N.E.W.T.s aren't till June."
Kate looked up at him and said, "It is already the end of April. June will be here before you know it, and where will you be if you haven't bothered to study for the exams?"
"I'm going to study," Hugo protested, "just not on the first day of term! Are you coming to lunch or not?"
Kate sighed. She wasn't going to get any further now that Hugo had interrupted her workflow. "Fine, I'll come." She gathered up her things, shoved them into her bag, and got up from her chair.
"You know," she said before they exited the study carrel, "it doesn't hurt to get a head start."
Hugo chuckled. "I have a different philosophy: never do today what you can put off till tomorrow." He put an arm around Kate and said, "Trust me. I've got this."
Somehow, Kate didn't believe he did.
Offer Of Lunch
Author: Plum
Date: 05-19-15 19:59
Ruta Gamp finds Plum in Devi's resource library. "Lunch."
Closing the reference book she'd been consulting Plum shakes her head. "I think I'm just going to have some crackers and an apple."
Ruta's shaking head mirror's Plum's. "Wasn't asking if you wish to get lunch. I'm telling you you're going to lunch with me. You've not been eating as you should since Anthony's troubles. You're wan and you're looking thinner."
"I admit my appetite's been off but I am eating. Promise."
"Technically, crackers and an apple are food but you need a real meal and I'm going to make sure you have one."
"Really, Ruta, I'm fine. Yes, I've been a little stressed about Anthony and then our niece vanishing, house hunting then closing on a house without my husband. I had help moving as you know, thank you, and even Alex was more help than hinderance, but it's all been tiring."
Ruta, looking stern, replies, "We leave in twenty minutes. Don't try hiding. I'll find you." This last is said with a hint of a bwa ha ha type evil laugh.
Plum sighs, shakes her head again, then returns her attention to the notes she's been writing. She tries to order her thoughts back to her task but she can't seem to manage. Instead, she thinks about the home Anthony has never seen. Plum has told him all about the different houses she'd narrowed down to a short list. She was even able to show him a few photos, the sort that wouldn't have the Muggles at the jail where he's being held asking questions. That's not the same as actually seeing a place, walking through it, getting a true impression.
Plum could have waited before making a decision but she really loves this particular house and didn't want to chance it going off the market before Anthony is free. Alex loves it and is thrilled with his new room. He also loves having the front and the back yards though he was sorry to leave his roof top play area at the Diagon Alley flat.
Just before Alex, and Justin, were out for the Spring-Easter holiday, Plum signed the parchments. As the sellers were already out of the house, the closing went quickly as did the turning over of the keys. The first week of holiday, Alex split time during the day at daycare and with various friends. In the evenings, he and Plum were at the house deciding on what rooms needed a facelift of some sort and working on getting those things done. Betsy and Jordan were big helps with some of it as well.
By Easter Sunday Plum felt they were about ready to begin moving their belongings from the flat to the house. After spending part of the day with the Becks, a somewhat quiet, somber affair under the circumstances, Alanna and Jared insisted on helping get the moving started, beginning with the beds so that Alex and Plum could sleep in their new home. With all that's gone one, Plum hadn't been going to ask any of her in-laws and extended family for help but Alanna and Jared insisted. She accepted their offer as long as it wasn't for long, pointing out that they still had Jared's family gathering.
She had taken the week off, both to spend time with Alex and get boxes unpacked. There was still a little left at the flat that needed packing up as well. Justin had gone home for part of the holiday with Jordan and Betsy going for the weekend. As the week went on and time allowed, they each helped as well.
Alex returned to school this morning and Plum to work but tired as she feels at the moment she almost wishes she'd taken another day or two. Then again, if home, she wouldn't have rested. She would have spent the time rearranging furniture, figuring out what the larger house needs that will need to be bought, deciding whether she wants to change out the hardware in the kitchen, and any number of other small to large jobs.
One of those large jobs is deciding what to do with the room that she's pegged for the nursery. When Anthony and she had first begun talking house hunting with the thought of adding to their family, a baby was just a gleam in their eyes. Not long after Anthony was arrested Plum had confirmation that the gleam is a reality.
Plum hasn't told any of Anthony's family yet, not with Katrina missing. She can't bring herself to share joyous news when Ariella and Lawrence are experiencing heartbreaking misery. She even hesitated telling Anthony but she finally did. Alex knows as well and amazingly has kept the secret so far. As far as Plum is aware, no other family member or friend has twigged to the pregnancy yet. As she's only just beginning to show, unless she starts wearing larger robes to work and never has anyone to the house when she's wearing comfortable clothes in which to lounge around or do chores, it won't be long.
Ruta interrupts her thoughts, making Plum jump and making her glad she hadn't been patting that teeny bulge. "Time to go. Indian. I'm yearning for a curry or mango chicken."
Knowing that Ruta is not going to leave her be until she relents, Plum leaves her work on the table, planning to return to it once back from lunch. "Good I like Indian or I'd be eating those crackers and apple while you have your curry."
Ruta's reply is a to grin, moving out of the way so Plum can walk through the door, heading for a fireplace on the Floo. A few minutes later, they are seated at Ruta's favorite Indian restaurant, perusing the menu in between Ruta asking what has had Plum spending much of the day so far in the office's library.
Disappointments
Author: Illyria
Date: 05-20-15 18:08
Illyria bustled around her classroom in anticipation of her first two classes of Spring Term. First, she would be teaching the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff first years about Epsilon Eridani. Then, she and her Ravenclaw and Slytherin third years would observe the Lyrid meteor shower from the top of the Astronomy tower. The weather was supposed to be ideal for the occasion.
As Illyria worked, she tried not to think about Easter. At brunch with Nathan's family, he had presented the ring box she had secretly found to his mother instead of her. The ring hadn't been an engagement ring at all but an Easter gift! Illyria had felt foolish for thinking otherwise, but most of all, she had felt extremely disappointed.
Had Urania's intelligence been wrong, or had Nathan simply changed his mind about wanting to marry her?
Truthfully, Illyria was tried of thinking about it. Unfortunately, she had difficulty masking her disappointment from Nathan and sometimes even acted impatiently around him. She knew she shouldn't, especially since Nathan couldn't possibly know how long she had been waiting for his proposal, but it couldn't be helped. Urania had created a monster, and Illyria couldn't leave well enough alone.
If Nathan noticed how short-tempered Illyria sometimes seemed, he didn't show it. In fact, he seemed happier with their relationship than ever. It was all so confusing.
She sighed to herself and continued with setting up for her first class, which wasn't for a while yet. After a while, she stopped to eat dinner before it was no longer an option in the Great Hall. Illyria entered the dining chamber a little while later and made her way over to the head table.
Marzi, Weston, and the boys were just getting up to leave, but when Illyria sat down, Weston left with Vallon and Carter, and Marzi sat down again.
"You don't have to stay," Illyria said, with a small smile.
"No worries," Marzi replied. "Truth be told, I was wanting dessert but I didn't want the boys to see any and want some too. They are already on a sugar high and it's bed time, besides."
She helped herself to a slice of creamy chocolate cake.
Illyria's smile widened and she murmured, "Denying your children chocolate cake. How cruel are you?"
Marzi grinned impishly and took a big bite.
Illyria, meanwhile, helped herself to a salad with Italian dressing and a hunk of crusty bread.
"Any news about your suit?" Illyria asked, after a short time of companionable silence.
Marzi shook her head. "No. I'm told she doesn't have a case, but it has yet to be dropped. As long as it's still out there, I'm worried." She sighed and put down her fork. "I still blame myself for what happened to Redberga. If I hadn't argued with her, then maybe she wouldn't have had that heart attack." She relented and said, "Okay, so maybe she would have, but maybe not right then and there in the bathroom."
Illyria nodded somberly.
"Enough about me," Marzi said. "Let's talk about you."
"Let's not," Illyria said. "I'm trying to forget about me at the moment."
"I'll only say this," Marzi began. "Don't let what your sister told you a long time ago ruin your relationship. You have a good thing with Nathan, don't you? You two survived a lot of drama already. Don't add to it based on a rumor."
Illyria nodded. "I know. You're right. That chocolate cake is looking really good right now."
"Eat your salad first, and then you can have cake!"
Illyria grinned. "Fine, but my slice will be much bigger than yours."
And it was.
Four Classes, Four Interesting Subjects
Author: Karma Davyd
Date: 05-21-15 16:27
This morning's third years, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, had enjoyed discussing Thaddeus Thurkell, who was a wizard that lived for only sixty short years (at least in Wizarding years), and had fathered seven sons. However, much to Thaddeus' disgust, his sons were all born Squibs. Soon, instead of seven sons, Thaddeus had seven hedgehogs instead - after he transfigured each of his sons.
My fourth year Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, were going to be learning about a piece of legislation that had been enacted by the Ministry of Magic in 1637 and turned out to be a complete and total failure. Standing before my students, I decided a little pop quiz.
"Alright, who can tell me what piece of legislation that was enacted in 1637 was a failure because no one came out to sign it?"
Several hands shot up, and I smiled. "Marion?"
"The Werewolf Code of Conduct."
"Very good. Now, can you tell me why?"
Marion thought a moment and nodded, "Because no one wanted to admit to being a werewolf, because it is a stigma in the wizarding world."
"Exactly. Being a werewolf at least at that time was looked at as being a stigma in the wizarding world. Five points to Hufflepuff. Now, who can tell me one of the items listed in the code of conduct?"
Again, several hands went up and I called on, "Achilles."
"To ensure, that for the safety of the public they were securely locked up each month at the full moon."
"Very good, why was this important?"
Achilles continued, "Because it ensured that if the werewolf got violent, there were no innocent bystanders injured. This ensures that no others are inflicted with lycanthropy, thus creating another werewolf."
"Very good. Five points to Gryffindor."
Quick tap of my wand to the blackboard revealed the assignments, and their due dates for the assignments. As a refresher from the previous term.
"You all should be working on your timelines, hopefully by now you'll have all four of them nearly complete. There will be an exam on your last class of this month. Comprehensive for the last three months February, March and April."
There was a collective groan that had mirrored the one in the previous class, and one that I would hear for my last two classes of the day. "Now, you sound like my daughters when I tell them that they still have to do their chores even though it is a weekend."
There was a bit of laughter, before I dismissed class. A few minutes was all it took to ensure that my class was ready for the incoming first year Ravenclaw and Slytherin.
By the time that class was dismissed I was starving, and was ultimately reminded that I'd missed eating breakfast, despite the fact that all three of my daughters had been fed before I'd dropped them off at daycare and the Day school before coming to the castle.
I headed to the Great Hall for lunch, and probably ate more than I should have because by the time I headed back to my classroom for my final class of the day I was ready to take a nap. However, I needed to get ready for my lecture on the Goblin Rebellion. We will be discussing one of the first rebellions, in 1612, where the headquarters was one of the Inns in the Hogsmeade village.
Ultimately, I would be glad when the class was over as I'd have time to head home before I had to go pick up the girls from the Day School and day care.
(Toby) Doping
Author: Beck
Date: 05-22-15 17:05
Sighting a bludger, Toby zoomed in its direction. He threw back his arm and then fired it forward, making hard contact as his bat struck the black ball. The sound the impact created was satisfyingly loud and powerful, and it put a grin on Toby's face. He turned to see where he was needed next, when his gaze fell upon his coach on the ground. Coach Moreland was gesticulating wildly with someone Toby didn't recognize. Ordinarily, Toby wouldn't be so easily distracted while in the middle of playing Quidditch, even if he was only practicing and not in an actual match. When his coach and the mystery wizard glanced up in his direction, however, Toby couldn't focus on anything else.
Coach Moreland blew his whistle to pause the scrimmage match and waved Toby down to the ground. The grin that had been on Toby's face was all but gone by the time his feet met turf. He jumped off of his broomstick and slung it over his shoulder in a casual manner.
"What's up, Coach?" Toby asked. His gaze turned to the other man, who wore a look full of disdain and disappointment.
"Serious business, Beck," Coach Moreland snapped, "that's what."
Toby had no idea why his coach seemed so flustered, nor what the 'serious business' he mentioned actually entailed. "I'm afraid I don't follow," he said.
For the first time, the other wizard spoke. He identified himself as Abram Butterfield of the British and Irish Quidditch League's legal authority and said in a haughty tone of voice, "Your drug test came back positive. You are in violation of your contract with the Falmouth Falcons and are hereby expelled from the team. Turn over your uniform and your equipment."
Toby wasn't sure he heard right. "Come again?"
Coach Moreland shot Mr. Butterfield a sharp look. "Are you absolutely sure?" he asked. He didn't know Toby as the type to abuse drugs and couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that the random test recently taken had come back positive.
"Positive," Mr. Butterfield snapped.
"There must be some mistake," Toby said. "I don't use drugs."
"Then explain the results of your test," Mr. Butterfield said.
"A mistake in the laboratory? I don't know," Toby said, "but I'm speaking the truth when I say I do not use drugs of any kind. Never have."
"You have the right to appeal," Mr. Butterfield said, "but the proof against you is concrete. You'll never play for the Falcons or any other team again. Hand over your uniform and equipment to Mr. Moreland, or will I have to call for security?"
Toby frowned but ultimately did as demanded. He left the stadium with his broomstick and the personal items he kept in his locker and wondered if whatever mistake had been made to get him kicked off the team would eventually get resolved in his favor.
(Sadie) Preparations
Author: Griet
Date: 05-24-15 12:55
Sadie carried a box of streamers and other decorations into the private room at The Bamboo Forest, where Hunter would be hosting a surprise birthday party for his older brother Hadrian later that evening. Today was Hadrian's twentieth birthday. Besides family, which included Hadrian's many cousins except those still at Hogwarts, various friends from St. Emrys University would also be attending tonight's dinner party.
Sadie set the medium-sized box on the edge of the long table in the private dining room and looked over to Hunter, who was talking dessert options with the restaurant's event planner. Plans previously made needed changing, due to the sudden unavailability of promised fruit. If Hunter was bothered or frazzled by the need make last minute changes to the dessert menu, he didn't show it at all. In fact, he looked remarkably calm.
Sadie waited for Hunter to finish his discussion with the event planner before inquiring about the decorations. She didn't want to put things up the way she thought best if he already had an idea on where all of it should go. Hunter wasn't exactly a control freak, but he'd put a lot of work into the surprise birthday party already, and Sadie knew how important it was for him that everything went smoothly. The hiccup with the dessert menu would hopefully be the only thing to go wrong.
Hunter deferred the decorating to her judgment. Sadie strung up the streamers, which were dark blue and white and included little flags with a single letter on each that all together read HAPPY BIRTHDAY HADRIAN. The restaurant would take care of the place settings but not the table decorations. Hunter had suggested mini sparklers instead of candles as a fun lighting alternative. Sadie spread them out along the center of the long table, but she didn't light them yet, even though it was awfully tempting. Being wizarding sparklers, they would continue to sparkle until spelled to stop, so there was no worry of them burning up before the party even started. Nevertheless, Sadie left them alone.
When all she could do for the present time was accomplished, she turned back to Hunter, who surveyed everything with a critical eye but seemed satisfied. It would be Sadie's job to pick up the cake from the bakery, and Hunter's job to get Hadrian to the restaurant. It was still early for both tasks, though. After some quiet deliberation, the pair decided to go for a walk outside, where they ended up at a park and sat down on an empty bench. It was a lovely afternoon, and they were both in good company.
The Dead and the Gone
Author: Ethan Somerset
Date: 05-25-15 16:53
Ethan looked out at his Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw first years from his perch on the corner of his desk and said, "And thus ended Gellert Grindelwald's life." It was a lecture he had given many times since returning to the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, with only the former dark wizard's death and the known details thereof recently added to the discussion.
"Next week we will begin discussing 'He Who Shall Not Be Named', otherwise known as Lord Voldemort," Ethan said. "Class is dismissed."
The first years made a lot of noise gathering up their things and exiting the classroom. Ethan got up from the desk and went to the blackboard, where he had written some bullet points about Grindelwald. He picked up an eraser and started to wipe away what he had written in chalk, pausing at the name of the wizarding prison Grindelwald had built, been imprisoned, and also died.
Nurmengard was not a place Ethan had ever seen, but he knew what it was like to be in prison, having gone to Azkaban twice and been interred at Brecqhou, the community for Nons. Ethan still bore the N tattoo on his hand from the latter.
During his stays at Azkaban and Brecqhou, Ethan had thought about death often. Had Grindelwald thought about it, too? It was known through the relatively recent capture of one of Grindelwald's protegés that Adriana Fairchild had dispatched the dark wizard herself. It was also now suspected that she had been the one to kill Hattie Harsnip, based on the handwriting analysis done on the note on the basket and old school records stored in Minerva's office.
Ethan blamed Hattie the most for his troubled life, since she had been the one to rip him away from the Towneleys and place him first into the home of the Mays and then with the Somersets. If not for her, then he probably would have lived a most normal life. He probably would have attended Hogwarts himself and may never have gone to Azkaban in the first place. Still, he hadn't wished her killed in such a brutal way.
Hattie's death had led to a reunion with the Mays, with whom Ethan had not spoken in many years, for no reason other than the passage of time. Hattie's funeral was a small, mostly family affair, and something more out of obligation for a dead relative than a true celebration of her life. Hattie was by far the black sheep of the family and not someone anyone wanted to memorialize. Ethan had almost felt awkward at the gathering, but Jon and Rob had been especially eager to catch up with him.
With Hattie no longer among the living, Ethan worried a little bit less about his safety and more importantly, Lilly's, but Nero and Meadow were still out there somewhere, and so was his father, Dorian. All three had reason enough to want him dead… but what about Adriana? Was her macabre gift just a birthday present or an indication of something more?
Ethan realized he was speculating wildly yet again and wiped away the word 'Nurmengard', along with everything else on the blackboard.
Possible Lead
Author: Ron Weasley
Date: 05-25-15 19:17
"Ron?"
Pleased with a reason to put the report he's writing aside, even if only for a short moment, Ron looks up, turning slightly to better view the opening into his cubicle. "Yes, Emahua?"
"There's someone looking for you. Casper Baatz."
Rising, a surprised Ron asks, "Where?"
"Just down the aisle," she says with a tilt of her head.
"Thanks." Ron brushes past Emahua to stride down the aisle of cubicles. Reaching Casper Baatz Ron greets the man, hand extended to shake. "Mr. Baatz, if I had known you were coming, I could have met you in the Atrium."
"What is the English expression? Spur of the moment? I think I may have found something of help. I came straight away."
Much as he wants to know what the something is, rather than continue this meeting standing there, Ron shows Casper Baatz to his cubicle, only asking the other man to go on once they're both seated.
Baatz hands Ron two photographs Danielle Baatz and another woman stand smiling, laughing, and waving to the camera. "Dani and Maartje Driessen. This one is from seven or eight years ago. They were the best of friends until not long after this photograph was taken. Dani said they had an argument, though she did not say what the argument was about. From that day on, Dani never spoke of Maartje, never had Maartje over, never again went to their regular, one a week lunches. Nothing. Yet," Casper taps the second photo, "this photo is recent, perhaps only a month or two before Dani's arrest."
"How can you be so sure of when this one was taken," Ron asks of the second photograph.
"The necklace Dani is wearing. She inherited the necklace from a great aunt. She did not have the jewelry before that time. Also, you see the background?"
Ron closely inspects the photo. "There's some sort of celebration going on."
"A shoppe celebrating three hundred years in business. This helps with knowing when the photo was taken. I forget the exact date of the festivities held and I did not go there to find out before coming here. Now that I am here speaking with you I realize I should have done so."
"Your sister made up with her friend. That's not so unusual."
"No, but I would have thought Dani would have made mention. I think I forgot to say that the first photo was tucked into Dani's mirror where she put it upon first bringing it home. The second was hidden behind a painting. I only found it because I noticed a crack in the frame. I took it down to determine if I could fix it with a spell or if it needed to go to someone specialized. The only reason I can think Dani would hide this photograph is to keep me from discovering Maartje were not only in contact but happily based on the photo."
Ron mulls over what Casper Baatz has said then reaches for a quill and fresh parchment. Maartje Driessen may well prove to be a dead end but at this juncture any information could be a possible new lead to the killer copying Danielle Baatz's style. "Tell me more about Maartje Driessen."
Predictable (Mason)
Author: Pyrrhus
Date: 05-27-15 19:17
Ancient Runes over Mason makes straight for the Great Hall, as do most of the others from the class. He doesn't know about them but for him what he ate for breakfast stopped tiding him over until lunch more than an hour ago. Spotting Boris already at the Slytherin table, Mason joins him, eyes already moving back and forth taking in the array of food that is this Friday's lunch offering.
"Pass that platter there, would you?" he asks, sliding into a seat.
"Which? The sandwiches or the roast chicken?"
"Sandwiches. Thanks. What did you do after History of Magic?"
"Thought about finishing up an assignment."
"But you took a nap."
Boris grins. "If you knew that, why did you ask?"
"In case you decided not to be predictable," Mason replies, returning the grin.
"Maybe I won't go to the match tomorrow. How's that?"
"Still predictable."
"How?"
"You always say you might not go when it's a match Slytherin's not in."
"I do?"
"Every time just about."
"Huh. Never realized." Boris adds some cheesy potato pie to his plate then bemoans not being finished with classes for the day. "I wish I didn't have to go to Muggle Studies. I need a cloning spell."
"You say that just about every Friday as well."
Boris makes a face. "You'd be saying it too if you had another class today."
"That reminds me, I need to turn in my course preferences for seventh year. I've been carrying it around for days now."
"Me too. I mean I need to turn it in, not that I've got it on me. It's in my trunk where it's been since Mum and Dad looked it over."
"Before we forget again, we'll do that after we eat."
"And cut into my after lunch, before Muggle Studies nap?"
Mason is the one making a face now, a goofy one, eyes rolling at his friend, before asking Boris to pass the bowl of mixed bean salad.